To date, I have not been forcing saving throws for items when they are in the range of spells like fireball. This is especially important considering you are the proud owners of an exploding gnome.

We have the option of continuing to do it this way, or of making the saving throws for items.

Keep in mind that the only reason I am bringing this up is it applies equally to PCs and NPCs. Namely, if you don't want the 'good' gnome exploding when I hit him with a fireball, then the 'evil' gnome isn't going to explode if you hite him with a fireball.

I don't see fireball as actually lighting things on fire, rather it produces intense heat and burns, then disappears. We don't have people running around on fire after a fireball … it just doesn't work that way.

So if the gnome jumped into a bonfire, which is a sustained source of fire, sure, he should blow up. But a fireball? Not unless his clothes and everything else light up as well.

Rolling saving throws for every item in possession when a fireball (or similar effect) goes off is a quick way to grind the game to a halt while we figure out exactly what is burning. I think it also takes away from the heroic action of the game…

So I would say definitely not… leave the fireball as a means to do some fire damage, and leave it at that.